California unemployment edges below 12%

[TomCADem]

Source: LA Times

California's unemployment rate fell below 12% for the first time since August 2009, but weak job gains showed that the economic recovery was still proceeding in fits and starts.

The state added 8,900 jobs in April and has gained nearly 100,000 jobs in the first four months of the year, according to numbers released Friday by the state Employment Development Department.

But the growth came in a month in which the nation added 244,000 positions, powered by states such as Texas, which gained a healthy 32,900.

California should account for about one-tenth of the nation's job growth to keep pace with the national recovery. In April, that would have been about three times the number of jobs it actually created.


Read more: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-california-jobs-20110521,0,3985059.story

[MNBrewer]

1. The state added 8,900 jobs in April

Underwhelming.

[lunatica]

2. Meanwhile all nine UC campuses are bracing for more layoffs

We already went to a major one in 2009. I was laid off and fortunately re-hired by the people who laid us off because of my experience. All the administrative work for the research departments were consolidated under one central unit. they laid off all the staff in the research departments and re-hired less then half so instead of staff doing the administrative duties of one or two units, we now do the work for 60 units, and they're adding five more during this Summer.

Now they're going to do the same to the Academic departments. I know of one staff member in another department who just received her lay off notice. Come September I think they'll get really serious and start laying off hundreds.

[lunatica]

3. Why did this OP get put in the California group?

Is this supposed to be of no interest to the rest of DU? I'll ask the Administrators.

[Starry Messenger]

4. I'd like to know if that counts the 99ers.

My sister in law has been out of work for so long, she can no longer claim unemployment and I'm sure there are thousands of others.

[Le Taz Hot]

5. And Fresno County's is "down" to 17%.

I'd really love to celebrate but . . .